There are nightmares
He could feel his muscles tearing, but it didn’t matter. His fingers curled into a fist, and another lock opened, sending power rushing through his body. He could see the boy’s startled green eyes for a millisecond, then his fists crashed into his stomach, striking over and over again. Lotus’ bandages anchored around the redhead’s torso, and he pulled upward, dragging the other boy toward him. One final blow sent him rocketing toward the ground, and another crater formed. Pain lanced through Lotus’ arm and leg as soon as he let go, and he went tumbling to the ground.
Exhaustion and pain overwhelmed his already battered body. It took everything Lotus had to turn his head and see the destruction, but somehow the other boy had guarded himself. Sand surged, and Lotus tried to crawl away, but it was too late. A pale, trembling hand raised in the air, and fingers of sand slithered forward. Sand closed around Lotus’ left arm and leg, then the boy’s hand tightened into a fist, and the Sand contracted. Lotus silently screamed as his limbs were shattered, pain and fear mounting in a dizzying spiral. The last thing he saw was the Sand gathering for another attack, then everything went black.
Lotus slumped to the floor beside his bed, panting for breath as the last vestiges of memory receded. He was vaguely aware that he was shaking and the warmth on his face was tears dripping down, but that didn't seem to be important. He scrambled at his left sleeve, forcing the fabric back, but he already knew what was there. Distinctive, swirled scar tissue met his gaze, and Lotus closed his eyes against it. The pain was gone, but every nerve-ending still felt raw from the memory of it.
He curled around himself, arms wrapping tightly around his legs, and buried his face against his legs. He couldn't stop shaking. Everything had seemed so real, and the details played over and over again in his mind. The sting of sand against his face. Blood running down his knuckles. Wild green eyes, and a smile that chilled his soul. Lotus' breathing hitched, and he muffled another sob against his leg.
"Dad?" The first call was soft, tremulous, then it was repeated- louder, more panicked this time, as fear spiked. "DAD?"
Exhaustion and pain overwhelmed his already battered body. It took everything Lotus had to turn his head and see the destruction, but somehow the other boy had guarded himself. Sand surged, and Lotus tried to crawl away, but it was too late. A pale, trembling hand raised in the air, and fingers of sand slithered forward. Sand closed around Lotus’ left arm and leg, then the boy’s hand tightened into a fist, and the Sand contracted. Lotus silently screamed as his limbs were shattered, pain and fear mounting in a dizzying spiral. The last thing he saw was the Sand gathering for another attack, then everything went black.
Lotus slumped to the floor beside his bed, panting for breath as the last vestiges of memory receded. He was vaguely aware that he was shaking and the warmth on his face was tears dripping down, but that didn't seem to be important. He scrambled at his left sleeve, forcing the fabric back, but he already knew what was there. Distinctive, swirled scar tissue met his gaze, and Lotus closed his eyes against it. The pain was gone, but every nerve-ending still felt raw from the memory of it.
He curled around himself, arms wrapping tightly around his legs, and buried his face against his legs. He couldn't stop shaking. Everything had seemed so real, and the details played over and over again in his mind. The sting of sand against his face. Blood running down his knuckles. Wild green eyes, and a smile that chilled his soul. Lotus' breathing hitched, and he muffled another sob against his leg.
"Dad?" The first call was soft, tremulous, then it was repeated- louder, more panicked this time, as fear spiked. "DAD?"